Worst flooding in over decade hits the county but Evesham is high and dry

9:02am Thursday 13th February 2014

THE worst flooding witnessed since the devastating scenes of 2007 hit Worcestershire this week, but Evesham escaped largely unscathed.

Areas in nearby cities and towns were left cut off by the floods with some homes and businesses defenceless as water rushed in.

Roads were also closed across the county including river crossings in Fladbury and Eckington and the Walcot Ford between Pershore to Drakes Broughton.

But Ronald Briggs, chairman of the Waterside Flood Defence Trust, in Evesham has been keeping a close eye on the River Avon outside his house and said there is no cause for concern.

"Waterside has not been closed yet," he said. "The water hasn't been on the road since January this year.

"The highest it has been in the last week is about 2.7 metres. Now it is 2.3 metres high. It is steady, not going up or down at the moment. "

He said water is expected to rise back up to about 2.7 metres today (Thursday) - at which level it is still about 30 cm off the road.

"We are not concerned thankfully," he said. "The Environment Agency tend to be pretty accurate these days."

The main problem in Evesham as a result of the rising water levels was the closure of the temporary footbridge off Abbey Road.

The bridge, which was installed to maintain pedestrian access over the river during the replacement of the Abbey Bridge, has been closed since Friday, February 7.

Conditions around the footbridge have left a number of people in the town angry saying Worcestershire County Council and contractors Hochtief should have considered the possibility of rising river levels.

Colin Merriman, of Cheltenham Road, wrote to the town council to ask if something could be done about the situation.

He said: "People are having to struggle into, and from, town through water and mud, ruining shoes and clothing.

"On Thursday, there was a huge pool over the path near the foot of the bridge on the meadow side. We are not talking about when the Avon floods, overtopping the bank. It is the lingering ground water problem that needs addressing."

Despite the necessary closure of the footbridge work on the Abbey Bridge has not been effected by the bad weather and flooding.